Three Staten Island dentists at Dental Associates of Richmond have over 90 years of experience between them

"We travel as a pack," said Dr. Meryl Efron of Dental Associates of Richmond, noting that the dentists and their employees show up at one another's special occasions, including a wedding in New Jersey last June, where front-desk receptionist Christine Castellano married John Lindstrom. Photo courtesy of Dental Associates of Richmond

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It's a hands-on, feel-good group dental practice, with Staten Island roots, that dates back to 1943, when the late Dr. William Lavori – first chairman of the Department of Dentistry at the former Staten Island Hospital in Tompkinsville – opened a private practice in St. George. Originally located in the former Medical Arts Building there, he relocated to Concord in 1979, after recruiting some of the best and brightest of his former dental residents.

"We're a traditional family practice, and we've seen generations of families," said Westerleigh resident Dr. Meryl Efron, one of the practice's three current partners, along with Dr. Robert Griswold of West Brighton and Dr. Mark Severino of New Springville, all graduates of New York University's School of Dentistry. None is a newbie to the profession: Dr. Griswold has 35 years of professional experience, followed by Dr. Efron, with 30 years, and Dr. Severino with 27 years.

Some patients, now in their 90s, have been coming for decades, along with their children and grandchildren. When Dr. Lavori retired in 1990, the practice was renamed Dental Associates of Richmond.

The spacious, welcoming front lobby – always elaborately decorated in celebration of seasonal holidays, with special nooks and crannies for kids to explore – is one reminder of the personal touches that keep patients coming back. That, in addition to courtesies such as providing public-transportation-dependent clients with a ride home, or helping out when a car breaks down.

"We really care about our patients," said Dr. Efron.

The practice handles all phases of dentistry, with the exception of orthodontics.

LONGEVITY

The staff includes three full-time dental hygienists, along with an office manager, insurance coordinator, three full-time and two part-time dental assistants, and three full-time front-desk employees.

Dr. Efron noted with considerable pride the long years of service of some of the practice's employees.

"I started working here 15 years ago, when I was 19-years-old," said Annadale resident Brooke Stockman, the full-time insurance coordinator. She was studying in the dental assistant training program at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, where Dr. Efron recognized her talents and "stole me."

"It's a family atmosphere here, a nice feeling," said Ms. Stockman, explaining her long tenure. "My family comes here as patients, and so do friends. I honestly trust them as dentists. And I take pride in working here. It feels like our practice, too."

Her colleague, Great Kills resident Liz Slayback, with her famous smile, agreed. Working at the practice for 17 years at the front desk as a patient coordinator, she said: "It's like a second family here. There's a lot of camaraderie, through good and bad times. Everyone sticks together."

When Dr. Griswold and his family confronted an inferno-like fire in the middle of the night in April 2012 at their home on North Mada Avenue – a blaze that took 168 FDNY firefighters three hours to contain – "our staff and patients came together to help," after his family lost virtually everything in the house, Ms. Stockman noted.

But it was a happy occasion, for all, when the practice recently celebrated its 2012 holiday party at the Griswolds' West Brighton home, she added.

"We travel as a pack," said Dr. Efron, noting that the dentists and their employees show up at one another's special occasions, including a wedding last June in Addison Park, N.J., where front-desk receptionist Christine Castellano married John Lindstrom. They also attend Staten Island Yankees games together, contribute to food pantries at Thanksgiving, and adopt families for Christmas, showering them with donated gifts.

Drs. Efron and Griswold also have deeply rooted connections to nonprofit organizations on Staten Island. Dr. Efron serves on the board of directors of the St. George Theatre and the Staten Island Historical Society. Dr. Griswold is active in the Notre Dame Club and its Bread of Life Drive, and the Special Olympics.

"It's nice to support the community that you live and work in," Dr. Efron said.

EXTENDED HOURS

The practice is open until 9 p.m. three days a week.

"We bend over backwards to accommodate a time for our patients, and make it as convenient as possible for them," said Dr. Efron. "And we try hard to stay on schedule, with no waiting time."